Dental vulcanizer



(No Model.)

J. O. KELLER & D. D. WEISELL. DENTAL VULGANIZER.

No. 411,449. Patented Sept. 24, 18819.

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N. PETER5, FhaID-Lfllwgmphcr. Washinglnn. D. C;

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSIAH O. KELLER AND DAVID D. TVEISELIJ, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA.

DENTAL VULCANIZER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 411,449, datedSeptember 24, 1889. Application filed May 3, 1889. Serial No. 309,542.(No model.)

To all whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that we, JOSIAH O. KELLER and DAVID D. IVEISELL, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Fort Wayne, in the county of Allen andState of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inDental Vulcanizers, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in dental vulcanizers; and itconsists in certain novel features hereinafter. described and claimed.

The formation of vulcanizable rubber into plates for artificial denturesconsists, essentially, in the following process: A sheet ofgut-ta-percha, waX,or other plastic substance of the desired thicknessof the plate is fitted upon a plaster model of the mouth. Upon this theteeth are mounted and secured with wax in the desired position for theartificial denture, the gutta-percha and wax conforming in shape andoccupying the space of the finished vulcanite plate. The case thusprepared is then flasked or molded in such manner that when the flasksare parted the teeth remain in one side of the flask and the model ofthe mouth in the other side. The gutta-percha and wax plate is thenremoved and the space filled with loosely-packed pieces of vulcanizablerubber. The case thus prepared is now ready for closing the flasks. Thisis usually accomplished by heating the case in boiling water, at whichtemperature (212 Fahrenheit) the rubber is softened, so that by pressingthe parts of the flask together it may be made to conform to the spaceleft vacant by the removal of the gutta-percha and wax plate. The flasksare then held closed by bolts or other device and placed in asteam-tight vulcanizer and the heat raised to 320 Fahrenheit and held atthat temperature for fifty or sixty minutes, at the expiration of whichtime the rubber is hardened or vulcanized. This latter process is,however, much better and more quickly and conveniently accomplished by avulcanizer so constructed that the flasks can be closed within thevulcanizing steam-chamber. \Vithin such steam-tight chamber the rubbercan be heated to a temperature (240 Fahrenheit) at which it is at itssoftest consistency, and in closing the flasks at this temperature thefine lines or rugee of the model are not broken down or destroyed andthe fit of the plate impaired, as is so frequently the case when theflasks are closed outside of the steam-tight vulcanizing chamber andnecessarily at a much lower temperature.

The object of our invention is to .produoe such a vulcanizer, with novelfeatures of construction for closing and opening the steamtight chamberand also closing the flasks within the same. in the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevated section view of theentire device, taken on its central line, showing the steam-chamberclosed and the position of the unclosed flasks, with teeth, models, andunvulcanized rubber packed loosely therein before commencing thevulcanizing process. Fig. 2 is a section view taken 011 a central lineat right angles with Fig. 1, with steam-pot and looking-rod removed,showing the position of the other parts of the device when thevulcanizingflasks are closed. Fig. 3 is a detail plan of thelockingli11k,With the lower end engaged within the slotted lugs formedon the flange of the steam-pot.

Similar numerals refer to like or similar parts throughout the diiferentviews.

The steam-pot 1 has formed upon its outer surface, near its rim, anannular flange 2, which is provided with slotted lugs 3, for thereception of the lower ends of lockinglinks 4. The lid 5 has an annularspace or groove on its under surface which fits over the upper rim ofthe steam-pot and contains a packing 14, which, when pressed down uponsaid rim with sufficient force, forms a steamtight joint. Upon the topof the lid, and formed integrally therewith, are lugs 7. Se-

cured to these lugs by a hinge-joint are the actuating-levers 8. Nearthe lower end of these levers are formed laterally-projecting lugs 6, towhich are secured bya hinge-joint the upper ends of the locking-links 4.WVithin slots 9 in the upper part of levers 8 are pivoted thelocking-nuts 10 by set-screws 11. Pivoting the nuts thus upon the endsof setscrews 11 allows their self-adjustment at a right angle with theright-and-left-threaded Such construction is shown locking-rod 12, thatpasses through them at any angle in which said levers maybe placed. Onthe central part of the locking-rod 12 is secured an insulated handle13, by which the locking-rod is turned, and which also serves as ahandle to the vulcanizer, or to the lid when detached from thesteam-pot.

Upon the central part of the lid 5 is formed a sleeve 23, on the upperend of which is fitted a collar-nut 16. Between these is an annularspace for a steam-packing 19. Upon the under side of the lid 5 areformed downwardly-projecting lugs 18, against which the flasks areforced in closing. \Vithin the steam-chamber is a stirrup 24, for thereception of and closing of the molding or vulcanizing flasks 20. Uponthe upper part of this stirrup 24, and formed integrally therewith, is apiston-rod 15, which passes through the lid 5, sleeve 23,collar-nut 16,and rubber packing 19, and is secured at its top by closing-nut 17.WVithin this stirrup, Fig. 1, With thecover of the upper flask impingedagainst lugs'18, are placed flasks 20, packed with rubber 21, ready forthe closing and vulcanizing process.

To close the vulcanizer, place lid 5 on the steam-pot 1 so that theprojecting rim of the latter-is in contact with the packing 14 in theannular groove, and adjust the lower ends of the locking-links 4 in theslots of lugs 3. By the insulated handle 13 turn the locking-rod 12 insuch direction that the upper endsof levers 8 are made to approach eachother. This movement of the levers, acting through the locking-links4,brin gs the rim of the steampotup against the packing 14 in the coverand secures the lid to the pot with a steamtight joint. Heat is thenapplied, and When the thermometer indicates 240 Fahrenheit with asuitable wrench turn the closing-nut 17. This raises the piston andstirrup holding the flasks and forces the latter upward against the lugs18 on the under side of the cover, thereby closing the flasks, as shownin Fig. 2. The heat is then continued until the thermometer indicates320 Fahrenheit, and is held at this temperature until vulcanized. Theheat is then withdrawn, and when the vulcanizer is sufficiently cooledit is opened by turning the locking-rod 12 in a reverse direction fromthe one used in closin This forces the upper end of the levers 8 apart,the locking-links 4 acting as a fulcrum to the levers, forces thesteam-pot down, and breaks the packing-joint. The locking-links 4 arethen thrown out of the slots in lugs 3, as indicated by the dottedlines, and the lid, with the stirrup and flasks, is lifted by the handle13 from=the steam-pot- By unscrewing the closing-nut 17 the stirruploosens its grasp upon the flasks and they are readily removed.

Having fully described our invention and manner of constructing andusing the same, what we claim asnew, and wish to secure by LettersPatent of the United States, is-

1. In a dental vulcanizer, the combination, with the steam-pot 1provided with lugs 3, and a lid 5, provided with lugs 7 and 18, of

the locking-link 4, and the actuating-levers 8,

hinged to the lid 5, as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a dental vulcanizer, the combination, with the steam-pot 1,provided with lugs 3, lid 5, provided With lugs 7 and18, andlooking-link 4, of the actuating-levers S, hinged to the lid 5 andprovided with lugs 6 and slots 9, as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In a dental vulcanizer, the combination, with the steam-pot 1,provided with lugs 3, lid 5, locking-links 4, and levers 8, providedwith lugs 6 and slots 9, of the locking-nuts 10, pivoted in slots 9 byset-screws 11, as and for the purposes set forth.

4. In a dental vulcanizer, the combination of a steam-pot 1, providedwith lugs 3, lid 5, provided with lugs 7 and 18, actuating-levers 8,provided with lugs 6 and locking-nuts 10, locking-rod l 2, provided withinsulated handle 13, and locking-link 4, all formed substantially asdescribed, as and for the purposes set forth.

5. In a dental vulcanizer, the combination, With-a steam-pot 1, providedwith lugs 3, and

a cover 5 provided withupwardly-projecting 12, locking-links 4, andstirrup 24, provided with a piston-rod 15, secured in position by nuts16 and 17, as and for the purposes set forth.

JOSIAH O. KELLER. DAVID D. WEISELL. Witnesses:

WM. ELLIS WEISELL, H. J. SEiBoLD.

